Jim Burgmeier

Problems and Solutions for Traffic Signal Timing
Around Williston Road and Dorset Street

I have traveled Williston Road through the intersection with Dorset Street almost daily for over 30 years and have repeatedly witnessed the poor, unsafe and contradictory way the traffic lights are timed. For this discussion, I will refer to the traffic light at Williston Road and Dorset Street as W-D and the traffic light at Williston Road and the Interstate 89 exit as W-I. Heading east on Williston Road at W-I there are three lanes: W-I right, W-I center and W-I left. Direction of travel will be denoted as W-D east when driving through the W-D intersection heading east, etc.

Problems with Current Timing.
1. It often happens that the W–I right light is green, W-I left and W-I center are red while W-D east has green lights. Under these conditions no traffic can enter the 100-foot section (called the Section here) between W-I and W-D from the Interstate so why are cars stopped at W-I left and center? Traffic is stopped unnecessarily.
2. It is not uncommon for W-D east to be green while W-I left and center are red, and W-I right is green, so no traffic is available to move through W-D. Then W-D east changes to red just as W-I left and center turn green. This allows about eight cars per lane to fill the Section. Then the W-I left and center lights turn red and W-D turns green letting those 16 cars through. This 16-cars-per-traffic-light-cycle often occurs at the afternoon rush hour, causing traffic jams back to Staples Plaza or even to the jug-handle, all because of careless timing of the traffic lights at W-D and W-I.
3. The right turn light at W-D east is green at poorly chosen times. That light and the W-D west light turning onto Dorset are green at the same time. Cars turning right at W–D east will need to get into the middle lane if they do not wish to go to the U-mall and will need to get into the left lane if they are headed to the Barnes and Noble mall. Cars turning left from W-D west to Dorset may want to get quickly into the right lane on Dorset to use the shortcut lane into the U-mall. Conflict for these goals is completely eliminated by having the W-D right east light red when (and only when) the W–D west left turn light is green or when the Holiday Inn light is green.
4. There are strange choices for the W-D light for Dorset Street cars turning onto Williston Road. The light initially is a green left arrow. So cars wishing to go straight into Holiday Inn should wait until the light turns solid green, as it eventually does. (Drivers realize this is not reasonable and illegally go straight on the left arrow.) Furthermore, the right turn light Dorset-to-Williston is still red. Why? Left, straight and right are compatible at the same time. Also, the right turn light is red while the left turn Williston-to-Dorset is green. Why?
 
Suggested Changes to the Traffic Lights Timing.
1. The W-I east and W-D east lights should be green at the same time. When turning red, turn W-I east red about three seconds before turning W-D east red. This will allow the Section to empty, creating space for the Interstate exit traffic to get onto Williston Road, and then stopped at the red W-D east light. This addresses problems 1 and 2.
2. As mentioned above, set the W-D right east light to red when (and only when) the W–D west left turn light is green or when the Holiday Inn light is green.
3. When the W-D north (Dorset to Williston) light is to turn green, make it a solid green light including a green right turn light. This right turn light can also be green when W-D west left is green.
4. At rush hour, the light W-D north is green too long. Often there are no cars going through this light while many cars on Williston Road are just sitting.

The Traffic Light at Starbucks.
1. The lights for Williston Road at this intersection sometimes start with a green left arrow. Unless the first car in line wants to turn left, this does no good. It would be much better to have the lights behave like the one at Williston-Hinesburg, heading west: a solid green with a green arrow for a few seconds. Then alternate this behavior east versus west: headed east, green with arrow, then the next time Williston Road gets a green light, make the westbound light green with left arrow for a few seconds, etc.
2. Don’t let this light turn red while the W-D east light is green. There is no point in going 200 feet on Williston Road from Dorset Street just to hit another red light.
3. This light for Starbucks and Double Tree exiting onto Williston Road should be very short – shorter than it is now.

The Traffic Light at Williston and Hinesburg Roads.
The eastbound traffic at this intersection is not allowed to turn left. However, the sign indicating this is behind where cars wait in the intersection if they are attempting to turn left, having missed the sign. Please put a straight up arrow lens in the light above the left lane, going east.

Please consider these changes. They would vastly improve traffic flow on Williston Road. If the City does not have jurisdiction over these intersections, then please refer this letter to those who are responsible. Thank you.

James W Burgmeier
6 Victoria Drive
802-318-3324